Comply with fast-track PTA concessions, labour working group and regional transport corridors
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan and Uzbekistan on Monday agreed to speed up efforts to boost bilateral commerce to $2 billion because the tenth Session of the PakistanUzbekistan Intergovernmental Fee (IGC) on Commerce, Financial and Scientific-Technical Cooperation concluded in Islamabad.
In accordance with a press release issued by the Ministry of Financial Affairs, the session was co-chaired by Haroon Akhtar Khan, Particular Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) for Industries and Manufacturing, and Laziz Kudratov, Minister of Funding, Business and Commerce of Uzbekistan.
Either side expressed satisfaction over regular progress in bilateral engagement and reaffirmed their dedication to increasing commerce, funding and financial cooperation. They underscored the significance of the Preferential Commerce Settlement, welcomed progress below Section-II concessions and agreed to expedite institutional mechanisms to attain the $2 billion commerce goal. The discussions emphasised commerce facilitation, logistics enchancment, customs digitalisation, transit commerce cooperation, improvement of regional commerce corridors and enhanced business-to-business engagement, alongside improved visa facilitation for enterprise communities.
The Fee agreed to ascertain the primary Joint Working Group on labour relations to deal with labour mobility, expertise improvement, office security and employment visa-related points. Within the transport and communications sector, either side welcomed curiosity in launching direct air providers, reviewed progress on regional railway and connectivity tasks, and agreed to advance various transport corridors to strengthen regional commerce and transit connectivity.
Agriculture and meals safety cooperation featured prominently, with either side welcoming progress on phytosanitary protocols enabling fruit exports from Uzbekistan to Pakistan. They agreed to increase collaboration by further protocols, joint working teams and technical cooperation in plant safety, livestock improvement and agricultural analysis, with a give attention to meals safety and sustainable progress.
In larger training, science and expertise, the 2 sides agreed to advertise joint analysis, college and pupil exchanges, vocational and technical coaching, innovation and capability constructing, supported by newly signed scientific and technical agreements.
The Fee additionally superior cooperation in vitality and minerals, data expertise, telecommunications, small and medium enterprises, business, banking and finance.
